Finchampstead FC are just one game away from a spot in the Reading Senior Challenge Cup final at Madejski Stadium after beating Reading Senior League outfit Woodcote/Stoke Row FC.

Playing in a blustery wind and a shower of hailstones, Finch’s players soon found discovered that this quarter-final would be no picnic.

After a few brief ventures into the Woodcote half, it was Finch who found themselves on the back foot as Jake Dillon cracked a shot straight at Nick Rumsby.

Rumsby had to be alert to stop another Woodcote chance soon after, before Tom Hopper headed on to Bob Yorke-Goldney whose overhead kick did not quite produce the desired result.

Woodcote had another good chance when Russell Carter was forced to clear off the line with Rumsby beaten, but Finch replied as Dean Thomas and Tom Hopper combined, but Hopper’s shot was well-saved by goalkeeper, Ball.

With 33 minutes gone, Finch broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion as Bobby Hogg curled the ball into the net from distace, giving his side a 1-0 lead at the break.

Dean Thomas started off the second session with a looping shot that missed the target and Finch continued to hack away at the Woodcote defence.

The hosts were given the opportunity to level the score in the 54th minute when Kevin Prentice was adjudged to have fouled his man in the area, and Mark Edward-Smith had no problem in dispatching the spot-kick.

Doubling their efforts, Finch poured forward, and Sam Wyatt’s shot screamed towards goal only to bounce away off the woodwork.

A trademark run by Thomas almost gave Finch the lead again, only for the keeper to stick a leg out, diverting the ball away from goal.

The winner arrived at a crucial time for the visitors as they were awarded a penalty for a trip on substitute Danny Isaiew.

He stepped up to take the penalty, but the shot was saved by keeper Ball.

However Isaiew reacted quickest, following up to fire the ball home at the second attempt.

This left Finch with a quarter of an hour to defend the slender lead and they managed to play out the remaining minutes fairly comfortably due to some stout defending by Scott Bursill and his comrades.

Finchampstead now meet Woodley in the semi-final, but next week they face Kintbury Rangers at home (kick off 3pm).